Knockdown crate.



. B. WBATHERBY.

' KNOOKDOWN CRATE. APPLIOATIVON FILED 11011.25, 1910.

989,739. 1 Patented Apr.18,1911.

CHARLES BENTON WEATHERBY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSORI.

KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Application led November 25, 1910. Serial No. 594,106.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. WEATH- ERBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in knock-down crates or packages designed, when not in use, to be reduced to a compact form and so constructed that the head of the crate or box may be held in different positions by means of straps.

The invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specically defined in the appended claim.

I illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the shipping crate made in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same.

Reference now being had to the det-ails of the drawings by letter, A, A designate a series of slats forming the surrounding wall of the crate, which may be made of any suitable material, and fastened to the inner face of each slat is a cleat B forming means for supporting the bottom D. Bands, preferably of metal and designated by letter E, are fastened to the outer faces of the slats and surround the crate and are adapted to be fastened together by any suit-able means as by nails. Certain of the slats are recessed away as at F, preferably at locations opposite each other, and fastened to a band II surrounding the crate are the straps K, one opposite each recessed portion F and designed to be fastened to the top O.

A strap or band Q, passes about the strap K and has a loop Q at one end for the reception of the free end of the strap which, after being passed through the loop, may be bent upon itself and fastened in any suitable manner.

In making up the crate, the series of slats are arranged to form a cylindrical crate with the bottom resting upon the cleats in the inner faces of the slats. The top is placed within the surrounding wall formed by the slats and, as the recesses F are elongated and the straps K are of considerable length, it is obvious that the crate may be filled at different heights and the cover adjusted in place and the straps K brought over the top of the cover and fastened in any suitable manner.

By disconnecting the ends of the straps which hold the same in cylindrical form, the series of slats may be piled fiat one upon another for convenience in shipment and the tops and bottoms of the crates similarly piled up.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that,

by the provision of a shipping crate as shown and described, a simple and efficient means is afforded whereby the crate, when not in use, may be reduced to a compact form by folding the same and, when made up for use, a receptacle will be afforded having varying capacities with the means for securely holding the material by fastening the head in place in the manner shown and described.

What I claim to be new is A collapsible crate made up of a series of slats with bands connecting the same and having interlocking ends, certain of said slats having recesses in corresponding ends thereof, metallic fastening strips having each an end bent about one of said bands, a portion of each strip extending longitudinally in the recesses of a slat and bent at right angles and disposed horizontally within the crate, said strips being positioned diametrically opposite each other and having their ends overlap each other at the axial center of the crate, and a cover fastened to the inner faces of the horizontally disposed portions of said strips.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

cHAs. BENTON WEATHERBY.

Witnesses WM. P. HALEY, ELMER L. COLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

